Fernando Torres, recovering from a recent operation on the meniscus in his right knee, remained on Merseyside for Liverpool’s first leg defeat at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Diego Forlan scored the only goal of the contest early in the first half after some good work from Jurado out on the right.

The Rojiblancos took the game to Liverpool straight from the kick-off and their early pressure paid off on 9 minutes. Jurado crossed for Forlan, who mis-timed his header, but luckily for the striker the ball fell at his feet and he managed to poke the ball over the line.

Benayoun headed wide a Johnson cross as the visitors looked for an immediate response. The Israeli then found the back of net in Liverpool’s next move, but his goal was ruled out for offside. A reply showed however that Benayoun was in fact onside when Kuyt released the ball.

Gerrard fired into the side netting as Liverpool began to assert themselves on the game. Ngog and Lucas Leiva were next to try their luck from range, but David de Gea in the Atletico goal was never called into action.

In a rare forray forward by the Madrid outfit, Ujfalusi blasted wide from a good position in the box. That was the last chance for either side of the first half as the referee blew his whistle for half-time.

Shortly after the break Forlan had a great chance to double Atletico’s lead when put clean through, but the striker rushed his shot which fell kindly into the arms of Pepe Reina.

Atletico were enjoying a good spell of possession and came close to adding a second. Ujfalusi’s right-wing cross was met on the volley by Simao, but his effort was brilliantly pushed over the bar by Reina.

Liverpool were struggling against the home defence as Perea put in two excellently timed challenges to deny Gerrard and Benayoun.

Reina was once again Liverpool’s saviour, this time blocking a shot of Ujfalusi, with Krygiakos on hand to clear the danger.

The visitors pegged Atletico back in their own half in the dying stages, but the equaliser failed to materialise as the Reds slipped to slender one goal defeat.

Just like the meeting in Madrid last season in the Champions League, after the final whistle both sets of supporters chanted Fernando Torres’ name.

The teams will next meet on Merseyside on Thursday April 29 where Liverpool will need to overturn the 1-0 defeat suffered at the hands of Atletico in the first leg to secure a place in the Europa League final.


- Match Stats: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool

Atletico Madrid: David de Gea, Ujfalusi, Perea, Dominguez, Lopez, Reyes (Camacho, 90), Assuncao, Garcia, Forlan (Salvio, 84), Simao (Valera, 77)

Booked: Valera

Goals: Forlan 9

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Krygiakos, Agger, Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Gerrard, Benayoun (El Zhar, 83), Kuyt, Ngog (Babel, 64)

Booked: Krygiakos